‘State wants full power on fishing licences’
SIBU: The state government must be given full authority to manage all matters related to the deep-sea fishing licences to prevent abuse of licences which deprives local fishermen of opportunities to catch better fish.
Sarawak BN Backbenchers’ Club chairman Abdullah Saidol said such authority would enable the state government to vet ( any applications and existing licence holders), approve or even terminate any licences if they were found to have infringed the law.
“The state government must be given full authority to manage; no more referring to the federal government. We want that authority here (in Sarawak) so that the management of local fishing industry will more efficient, including giving out of grants.
“That is why we are pursuing this administrative autonomy and not just about getting back some of the rights under the Malaysia Agreement 1963. With this kind
The state government must be given full authority to manage; no more referring to the federal government.
of administrative power, we can act swiftly in terms of monitoring, enforcement and intrusion into our waters, which is good for our local fishermen.
“We have lost the oil and gas produced by receiving only five per cent royalty. Hence, I feel we also do not want to lose out on our sea and agriculture produce to foreigners.
“That is why we need this management to be handed to the state government,” Abdullah, who is also chief political secretary to the chief minister, told reporters after officiating at the meeting of Bruit ( PNK) Fishermen Association at the fishermen market in Ding Lik Kong Road here yesterday.
He was asked to comment on Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas’ statement that the state was particularly concerned with the abuse of Class C2 licence by local operators and had conveyed a request to the federal government for the state government to vet all applications prior to approval.
Uggah, who is also Minister of Modernisation of Agriculture and Rural Economy, said the government had revoked 35 Class C2 licences for deep- sea fishing and suspended 106 permits issued to local operators for abusing their licences.
Uggah also said he would be making an appointment with Minister of Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Datuk Seri Ahmad Shabery Cheek to discuss the issue further.
Abdullah, who is Semop assemblyman, said if the authority was handed down to the state government, it would be able to vet any applications and current licence holders to get rid of those contravening the law such as
Abdullah Saidol, Sarawak BN Backbenchers’ Club chairman
those selling fish caught in the state’s waters elsewhere.
“At the end of the day, it is about strengthening the socio- economy of the rural folk especially in the fishing industry.”
He added that doing so would make fishing and agriculture industry an important component of Tanjung Manis halal hub.
He said the local fishing industry wanted to be as capable as that of their foreign counterparts in term of technology and know-how.
PNK Bruit general manager Bustam Opis, its chairman Ismaily Joharie, ‘Pusat Latihan Teknologi Perikanan’ ( Tanjung Manis) manager Marjuki Juli, Malaysia Fisheries Development Authority ( LKIM) Sarawak’s secretariat marketing representatives Sufri Ahmad, Zahurin Zakaria and Sarawak Fishermen Association ( Penesa) project supervisor Kamarol Abet were also present at the meeting.